Learn about Ballot Questions in the upcoming election- Part one

Ballot Questions Update from Barnstable DTC —June 26, 2026

Voters in Massachusetts face the possibility of 8-9 ballot questions in November. One

question—whether to uphold/protect our 2024 model firearms legislation against an

effort to overturn it—is already certified to appear on the ballot. Two more—support for

Election Day Registration and support for an All-Party Primary election system—will

also likely appear, pending a final formal certification by the Secretary of the

Commonwealth’s office, after supporters recently collected more than 12,000 second-

round signatures for each.

Election Day Registration—a version of Same Day Registration—will allow eligible

U.S. citizens who have missed the voter registration deadline to appear at their polling

place on Election Day with proof of residency and identity, complete a written oath, and

cast a ballot. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, along with several good government

groups—like Common Cause, League of Women Voters, ACLUMA, and the MA Voter

Table—have long supported Election Day Registration. The Massachusetts Democratic

Platform includes a call for Same Day Voter Registration.

All-Party Primary. The question proposing replacing Massachusetts party-specific

primary system with an All-Party “Top Two” system had faced a lawsuit challenge, but

was recently approved by the State Judicial Court to move ahead to the November

ballot. The Massachusetts Democratic Party opposes this ballot question.

Several more questions could still appear on the ballot, pending the Secretary’s

certification by mid-July, including repealing adult use of marijuana, establishing a

Nature for All Fund, and proposing tax limits.

Disqualified. The SJC has cited three questions as unqualified to appear on the

ballot—stipend reform in the MA Legislature, ruling it unconstitutional, a rent control

measure that would have capped rent increases across the state, and a question on

lowering the state’s income tax rate, ruling the measure’s summary was misleading.

For a list and summaries of all the proposed ballot questions, see the Secretary of the

Commonwealth’s site . Stay tuned for more updates.

BDTC Social Media Committee

6/26/2026

Keeping tabs on Local issues: Water supply

Hyannis Has Plenty of Water

Our Water Supply Board Chair says the town is pumping enough water today and building

capacity for tomorrow.

Why it matters: Opponents of growth are spreading misinformation that we’re “out of

water”. The Barnstable Municipal Water Supply Board is reporting that there is no shortage.

There’s enough water to grow to meet the increasing needs of Hyannis.

Zoom in: Board Chair Sam Wilson told the Town Council at its November 6 meeting that the

Hyannis Water system, which delivers water to the village of Hyannis is working to provide

plenty of water today, tomorrow and in the future with:

•  A new well at the Mary Dunn Field will come online at the end of the year adding 500

• gallons per minute for three quarters of a million gallons per day of new capacity.

•  Straightway Treatment Plant is under construction with an expected system pumping

• capacity of 7.91 million gallons per day

•  Mary Dunn Treatment Plant will be constructed by 2030 with an expected system

• pumping capacity of 10.78 million gallons per day

What he’s saying: “From today to the end of the decade, we will have doubled our pumping

capacity. We'll have a lot more resiliency in our system.”

Go deeper: The Barnstable Municipal Water Supply Board is responsible for the oversight of

the Water Supply Division of the Department of Public Works and consists of five members

who are ratepayers of Hyannis Water System appointed by the Town Manager for three-year

terms.

For more:

 Barnstable Municipal Water Supply Board Presentation: 11/6/2025 Town Council

Meeting starting at 1:13:12 for 21 minutes

https://barnstable.cablecast.tv/internetchannel/show/12017?site=1

 Barnstable Public Works: Water Supply Division Website

SUPPORT BARNSTABLE BECOMING A GREEN COMMUNITY

Barnstown is the only town onn the Cape tht has not beome a Green Comminity

GREEN COMMUNITIES:  Barnstable is now the ONLY town on the Cape that is not designated as a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Community,  a state program started in 2008. (On the map in the linked document , the only towns in the State that are not green communities appear in white.)  Town Council voted it down 16 Dec 2021 by a 6-6 vote.  Opposition cited the cost to developers of the Stretch Code which has recently been made less cumbersome.https://tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us/BoardsCommittees/TownCouncil/Minutes/2021/12-16-21_mins.pdf   Discussion and vote on GC pg 15-17). 

 The program is now being revisited and hopefully will pass.  Among its many benefits the program makes  towns eligible for up to a $250,000 annual grant.  Mashpee has already benefited by more than $1 million dollars.  The Barnstable Infrastructure & Energy committee will hold an educational workshop at the Town Council March 20th meeting. Information about the program can be found  in the document link above. The presentation will feature a number of speakers including Jane Ward..  BDTC members are encouraged to attend either in person or by Zoom.  If you are attending in person, please wear green and feel free to voice your support  during public comments or in writing!!  Let our Town Councilors know you are concerned and in support of becoming a Green Community!! Thank you